The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-12

tue younger 'Wolau, Ha5 u0ueE buTVell'
lsnce OF the officers, and close watch was
kept over him yesterday. After the hear.
ing last evening, the Sheriff OF Hancock
county placed Baker under arrest and
took him to New Cumberland, where no
was lodged in jail.
The inquest was held with locked doors
and guards stationed ct the windows OF
tho room in whicG it was held, to prevent
any possible whisper Of what was pass
ing from becoming known, in this day
and age Of the world very unusual pro-
ceeding.
The jury consisted OF the following
named persons: VIM. Brown, foreman ;
James Campbell, Thos. Campbell, Frank
Hindman, Jesse Cabell, W. S. Miller, 4.
J. Ovens, Milton Griffith, VIM. Crawford,
David Keaggy, James Wright and VIM.
Roberts. They began N investigation
about O'Clock end were still continuing
it with locked doors when the crowd from
this place left to take the o'clock train
for home.
Baker at one time recently was candi-
date for the Office OF county supeGinten-
dent OF schools Of Hancock county.
BAKEE's CAREER.
Yesterdays Steubenyille Gazette has the
following: Sa,
Appointment citizen Of the locality where
Baker spent hia boyhood days. informed
us this morning that the father Of the GUS
pect, VIM. Baker, is an honest, upright
and industrious man, having Sustained
this reputation for many years; that he ia
shoemaker and resides in Gross Creek
Village, in the township OF the same
name, Washington county, Pennsylvania.
The mother has also an excellent reputa-
ton, which con be said, too, OF tho rest
Of the family. On the other hand,
Van has been noted for hjs ugly
disposition both as boy and
man and BIO was generally blamed by those
acquainted with both for the frequent
quarrels that occurred between him aud
his first wife. This comedies with other
stories which are to the effect that he
treated his first wife with the utmost
cruelty; but it is sale under existing cir
cumstauces not to lay too great stress on
such stories, for there is no letting up
when the world starts in ct the business
Of giving a dog bad name. The game
authority as above noted, etates that Van
was arrested during the wRr upon the
charge Of shooting st q Provost Marshal
and taken to Plttoburgh, but was subse-
quently acquitted.
A business man OF thia city, who will
not permit tho publication OF his name,
says that as soon as he heard OF the crime
it occurred to him that it was committed
by Baker, who, he says, Is the most brutal
man he ever knew. He has known him
since he WAS y years old and q pupil Of
Bakers. He was very brutal in the pun
ishment of pupils. At Paris, where the
gentleman was brought up, and where
Baker taught school, there. WIS o tradition
that Baker had killed boy previous to
his advent in Paris. The gentleman Gays
that on one occasion in furnishing him,
Baker threw him up against the ceiling OF
tho school house and allowed him to lall
insensible upon the floor. He WAS car.
ried homo and did not return to conscious
ness for q long time. ,=a
1t ia also said that Baker beverley treat
cd his first wife, whose maiden name was
Martin. She died on boat at Wheeling
ABOUT three years ago while on the way
with him to this city. Ths corpse was put
Oh here on Sunday morning and placed
IN the wharf boat. Baker left the body
and did not return, and Jacob Lashley. thu
whsrf boat master, stald with the corpge
until evening, when an undertaken called
with collin. Baker at the,tino ssked
doctor OF this city to make post mortem
examination Of the body, which TACT
showed guilty conscience, ii57|''